Its up to individual beeks. Neither is any better per say (bees don't seem to have a preference). I've got painted and polyed hive bodies. I typically melt beeswax and use it to paint the insides of new wood, and have used combos of linseed and melted beeswax for the outsides (paint or poly is cheaper, faster and longer lasting) w/ OK results.

Logged

"Trust those who seek the truth, doubt those who say they've found it."

I would imagine the poly would break down in the Texas sun...I know it would here. Maybe a spar varnish?

Scott

Logged

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

They have a poly w/ UV protection. Anyone heard of painting hives with high temp auto paint ?Cheers,Drew

the spar urethane is a better choice for wood that's exposed to direct sunlight, water and temperature changes. it will contract and expand with the wood during rapid temperature changes without cracking.

personally. Anything I can get My hands on cheap or free. I picked up 35 gals of Thompson's gray wall stain, 3 5 gal pales of white building paint and about 30 quarts of miscellaneous paints all for free. He did not have to pay to disposal. Hey that just gave me a idea. check with your local dump and see if hey get used paint in and if you can have it. mix oils paints together and the latex paints together. should make for some wild colors. use what you can just remember to check for when they need repainting in a few years.

i suggest a trip to sherwin williams or your local paint store. scoop up the mistints by the 5 gallon bucket. you can get the mistints from lowes or HD but its cheaper at the paint store.. This is a numbers game, and the more you save on something, that money can be allocated to other equipment.